Juventus are on brink of cup semis
ROME, Italy -- Juventus are well placed to progress to the last four of the Italian Cup after snatching a 2-1 win at Perugia in the first leg of their quarterfinal on Thursday.
Substitute Marco Di Vaio scored the winner a minute from time, stooping to head Mauro Camoranesi's right-wing cross into the net off the post.
Marco Zalayeta put Juventus in front with a close range striker in first half stoppage-time before former Fiorentina winger Christian Manfredini slotted home a 66th minute equaliser.
But Juventus, fielding several second-team players and resting such stars as Alessandro Del Piero, Pavel Nedved and David Trezeguet, were less than impressive against a team which is struggling in Serie A.
Nine-time winners Juventus host Perugia in the second leg next week.
On Wednesday, cup holders AC Milan had Massimo Ambrosini to thank for giving them a slender advantage over Roma in a repeat of last season's final.
The 26-year-old Italy international pounced from close range in the 90th minute to give Milan a 2-1 victory over the current Serie A leaders at the San Siro.
Danish striker Jon Dahl Tomassson put Milan in front before John Carew equalised for the visitors.
Lazio put themselves in a strong position after defeating crisis club Parma 2-0 at the Olympic stadium.
Parma, whose future hangs in the balance following the collapse of parent company Parmalat, fell behind to Roberto Muzzi's looping header before Dejan Stankovic doubled Lazio's lead with an angled drive.
On Tuesday, Inter Milan, who last won the cup in 1982, scraped a 0-0 draw away to Udinese.
